Eastwood blogger Simon Tomlin guilty of harassment

An Eastwood man who sent death threats to a former friend and harassed a police officer has been found guilty of five charges relating to malicious communications.

Simon Tomlin, 46, of Lawrence Avenue, was convicted at Nottingham Magistrates Court today (Thursday) in his absence, after failing to attend a two-day trial.

Tomlin was found guilty of criminal harassment of former friend Melony McElroy and PC Richard Reynolds, of sending a series of tweets containing grossly offensive material which referenced Ms McElroy on October 9, 2014, and of repeatedly referring to her as a ‘neo-Nazi’ on his blog, The Daily Agenda.

When explaining his decisions, the magistrate said that despite Tomlin’s denial of harassment in police interviews, it was clear he deliberately caused alarm and distress and was aware that it would constitute harassment.

He said of Melony McElroy: “He caused fear that she was at risk of murderous reprisals and sent matter that was grossly offensive and menacing.

“It is clear from Ms McElroy’s evidence that he caused her fear and distress and I am quite sure that is what the defendant intended.”

Tomlin was also convicted of sending by public communications network pictures of police officers’ private vehicles on October 5, 2014, which the magistrate described as ‘hate material’ against the police.

He added: “In view of the number of followers and the nature of the website that the Facebook page was associated with, the officers whose cars were identified had every reason to fear damaging consequences.”

A warrant for Tomlin’s arrest was issued and he will be sentenced at a later date.